Stay Safe During Barbeque Season
With summer here at last, Caerphilly County Borough Council is reminding residents to stay safe when they fire up the barbecue in the coming weeks.
Barbecues are popular throughout the UK, with residents hosting around 125 million per year. However, every precaution should be taken to keep the risk of food poisoning to a minimum, as this type of infection can make a person seriously ill.
The Food Standards Agency has 6 helpful tips to keep everyone safe as they enjoy a barbecue with friends or family this summer:
Pre-cook – Cook meat in the oven prior to giving it a final finish on the barbecue to ensure any bacteria present has been killed during the cooking process. Meat should be thoroughly cooked and piping hot throughout before serving.
Charred doesn’t mean cooked – Ensure all meat is cooked properly by cutting into it and checking that it is steaming hot all the way through, that none of it is pink and that any juices run clear. Turning meat regularly and moving it around the barbecue will help the meat to cook evenly.
Disposable barbecues take longer – These types of barbecues take longer to heat up and cook food, so allow plenty of time to make sure your meal is cooked throughout.
Avoid cross-contamination – Store raw meat separately before cooking as well as using different utensils, plates and chopping boards for raw and cooked food. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, drying them carefully before handling barbecue food and after handling raw foods including meat, fish and vegetables.
Do not wash raw meat – Never wash raw chicken or other meats as this leads to the spread of germs. Thorough cooking will kill any bacteria present, including campylobacter.
Keep plates and cutlery away from raw meat – Never serve food on a plate or surface that has been used to store raw meat or fish. Marinades and cutlery that have been in contact with raw meat should be washed thoroughly before being used again. Make sure that any utensils that have been used for raw meat are thoroughly cleaned before touching cooked meat and other food.
Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for public protection said: “Campylobacter, salmonella, E.coli and listeria are all commonly found around barbecue foods including meat and salad. Follow the Food Standards Agency’s 6 top tips to help reduce the risk of becoming infected”.
Residents are reminded that food waste can be deposited into their food waste caddy, ready for composting.
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